Bill > HB0954

This bill requires all Tennessee law enforcement agencies to establish alternative crisis response units (ACRUs) by January 1, 2026, which will consist of a qualified mental health professional accompanying a full-time police officer on mental health-related service calls, with the mental health professional taking the lead role. The Tennessee peace officer standards and training commission will be responsible for developing uniform training standards for these units, including annual training for police officers on how to effectively support mental health professionals during these calls. A "qualified mental health professional" is defined using existing state code definitions. The bill aims to improve responses to mental health-related incidents by integrating professional mental health expertise directly into law enforcement interactions. Most provisions of the bill will take effect on January 1, 2026, with one section (establishing training standards) taking effect immediately upon becoming law. This approach seeks to provide more compassionate and specialized support for individuals experiencing mental health crises by ensuring trained professionals are directly involved in response efforts.

Government Affairs, Labor and Employment

https://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/Billinfo/default.aspx?BillNumber=HB0954&ga=114